Lokmat | Lokmat Parliamentary Awards: States should reduce VAT and give relief to people from fuel price hike: Hardeep Singh Puri

Mar 18,2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cut in excise duty on fuel in November 2021 and May 2022 reduced petrol prices by Rs 13 and Rs 16 respectively. At the same time, the state governments were appealed to provide relief to the people by reducing the VAT. However, non-BJP-ruled states did not respond to that call for mere politics. As a result, there is a difference of Rs 15 in petrol price between BJP-ruled and non-BJP-ruled states. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri appealed to the state governments of the opposition parties to take the initiative to eliminate it, while speaking at the 'Lakemat National Conclave'.

Hardeep Singh Puri, who also holds the housing and urban development portfolio at the Centre, was speaking at the seventh session of the conference. CNN News-18's Shivani Gupta interacted with him. Puri said that the central government is trying to keep fuel prices within reach. However, the public will get more relief if states reduce VAT. It is clear from the purchase of oil from Russia, that the Medi government is not working under the pressure of any country. Earlier we were buying very little oil from Russia. Because, cheap oil was available from nearby Arab countries. Now, as cheap oil is available from Russia, it has increased its purchase. Since India is a big market, in a way we are playing the market card. So there is no reason for western countries to be upset.

Responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegation that democracy has fallen into disrepute, Puri questioned Gandhi's credibility. On the contrary, Congress has often undermined democracy. In fact, Rahul Gandhi, who defamed the country by going abroad, will be kicked out by his own party. Because, Puri criticized that he has become dazed to his own party. He claimed that if the Congress continues to do the same, we will win more seats than them in 2024.